Fungiform
papilla appear as occasional small pink projections which are scattered
rather widely over the surface of the human tongue.
Taste buds on the human tongue are found
ONLY on the sides of fungiform papillae (and on a few large circumvallate
papillae located at the back of the tongue). They are not associated
with the filiform papillae which cover most of the tongue's surface.

The image above shows cross sections of foliate (elongated,
leaf-shaped) papillae from rabbit tongue, which in section appear similar
to human fungiform papillae. Taste buds
are much easier to find on this specimen than on human tongue, where fungiform
papillae are rather scarce. (Why this should be is unclear, since rabbits,
which are well known for eating their own droppings, hardly epitomize gourmet
sensitivity.)

Note that each papilla has a core of lamina
propria. In oblique sections this connective tissue can give the
illusory appearance of isolated "islands" surrounded by epithelium.